Dang, I went there maybe 3 years ago and didn’t think it was that bad.
I was there in December and thought it was just fine.
I think BigDog was there last week.
I can pretty much enjoy BBQ anywhere, I don't pick a place apart for this "not being like mine" or "I can do better".
The Memphis dry rub ribs at Rendezvous had great flavor profile, light tug, and after an 8 hour drive, it was perfect and my wife and I loved it.
It's pretty much and institution and I would go just so you could knock it off your list.
This coming December we're going to Gus's, and to Central BBQ.
After a quick stop at FatBack Joe's, of course.
We had a little bit of BBQ on Beale street, but it was mostly like pulled pork nachos and other app items to munch while listening to the music. The Pig on Beale has some really good made to order pork skins. Would be fantastic to make pulled pork nachos with them, but the owner looked at us like we were nuts for suggesting it.
Which we found kind of odd because the pork skin nachos we first fell in love with were at Kingfisher in the NOLA French Quarter. There is definitely a heavy Cajun type presence in the food in Memphis, as they are very close just up the Mississippi. I had some fantastic red beans and rice at Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale, but nearly every place had it on the menu.
When people come to Chicago, they always want to go get Chicago pizza. I am not a fan. Maybe Rendezvous is like that, something the city is known for that you gotta try at least once.
Have a safe trip.
Memphis is, ... interesting.
You can see the bones of what use to be a great city (kinda like St Louis). The city is trying to revitalize things, and Central BBQ is in one of those pockets of revitalization.
So we check in at the Moxy on the main downtown hotel strip and I get out of the car and start walking away when I realize I have my car keys in my pocket out of habit getting out, and forgot to hand them to the valet. I turn around and hand him the key and say "Doh, I think you'll need this". He looked at me, looked at my car, then said "I could probably hot wire it".
Nice.